Armistice Day: Britain comes to standstill to honour people who lost lives in war

People across the UK have joined together to mark 101 years since the end of the First World War.

A range of tributes and commemorations are being held across the nation, as school children, veterans and political leaders pay their respects to the men and women who gave their lives for their country.

Touching photos show children lining up with wreaths of poppies to commemorate the fallen for Armistice Day.

Armistice Day 2019 - In pictures

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Veterans have also braved the winter chill to honour the bravery of those who fought to save the lives of others.

Trumpet renditions of the Last Post drew Britain to a standstill, as residents held two minutes' silence as a mark of respect.

Two minute silence for Armistice Day 2019 in the UK

Prime Minister Boris Johnson could be seen speaking to a veteran during a service at the cenotaph in St Peter's Square, Wolverhampton.

Meanwhile, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn was spotted adjusting the traditional British Legion poppy on his jacket, as he waited outside Islington Town Hall before observing the silence.

The Royal Family's official Twitter page offered its own written tribute for the occasion, posting a photo of World War One soldiers.

Jeremy Corbyn attends the Armistice Day Commemoration at Islington Town Hall
Getty Images

Alongside the image the tweet included English poet John Maxwell Edmonds's famous lines: "When you go Home, tell them of us and say, For your Tomorrow, we gave our Today."

The British Army and Metropolitan Police are also among those to share messages of commemoration on social media.

The army tweeted moments after the two minutes' silence: "As the nation observes the Armistice silence, we remember the sacrifice of the 1,281,459 military personnel who, since 1900, have given their tomorrows for our today.

"We Will Remember Them."

Remembrance Sunday 2019: Cenotaph commemorations

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Today year marks 100 years since the two-minute silence was first observed on November 11, 1919.

Armistice Day, also known as Remembrance Day, is observed every year on the eleventh day of the eleventh month to commemorate the signing of the Armistice between the Allies and Germany to end the First World War.

The custom of observing two minutes' silence first began a century ago under King George V.

One year after WWI ended, King George asked the public to hold a silence at 11am to honour the war dead and ensure the "thoughts of everyone may be concentrated on reverent remembrance of the glorious dead".

Queen and Royal Family pay tribute to fallen at Festival of Remembrance

It follows Remembrance Sunday in the UK, which is always held on the second Sunday in November each year.

Yesterday the Royal Family led the nation in paying respects to its war dead at the traditional wreath-laying service at the Cenotaph.

Two minutes' silence was observed at 11am before Prince Charles laid a wreath at the Cenotaph as the Queen watched from the balcony of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.​

French President Emmanuel Macron stands by a wreath of flowers during a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe
POOL/AFP via Getty Images

On Monday, countries across the world held their own commemorative events, from Australia to France.

French President Emmanuel Macron marked Remembrance Day Monday by relighting the flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier under Paris' Arc de Triomphe.

The rousing sound of military band brass music was slightly muffled by persistent rain for the hundreds of spectators thronging the Champs Elysees avenue, some of whom waved French flags.

Mr Macron will later inaugurate a monument for the hundreds of soldiers who died in foreign operations since 1963.

The Shrine of Remembrance on November 11, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia
Getty Images

In Australia, around 2000 people, including attended a ceremony at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, while in Melbourne about 4000 people converged on the city’s Shrine of Remembrance.

While Australia had not been a nation for long, 416000 people enlisted to serve in World War I and 60000 never returned home.

There will be a final reminder of those who made the ultimate sacrifice on Monday night when images of poppies are projected onto the sails of the Sydney Opera House.

Outgoing Australian War Memorial Director Brendan Nelson also used the sombre occasion to pay tribute to Australians facing devastating wild fires.

Listen to today's episode of The Leader here: